Tag: Programming

Coding Bootcamp When you think of bootcamp, you probably think of army bootcamp. However, unlike the army, coding bootcamp doesn’t involve 5 a.m. wake-up calls or cleaning anything with your toothbrush. Just like army bootcamp, coding bootcamp is short and intensive. However, instead of learning how to be a soldier, you learn how to be a programmer.

Most coding bootcamps are between four and six months long. In addition to attending class, there is outside homework, too. While some programs let you attend class when it’s convenient for you (like online bootcamps), many require frequent in-person attendance and expect you to stay in class for eight hours a day.

While coding bootcamp is more like a trade school, you do have to apply and interview for acceptance. Most bootcamp programs focus on a “specialty.” For example, some bootcamps may only teach you Ruby on Rails, while others may focus on user experience and design.

Who Are Coding Bootcamps For?

Coding bootcamps are for anyone that wants to learn how to code. In general, people in coding bootcamps are career changers and have a college degree in a different field. However, some participants don’t have any degree.

It is also worth noting that some bootcamp participants already have a computer science degree or come from a technical background.

The Pros and Cons of Coding Bootcamp

Before you sign up for any coding bootcamp, you should understand not only the pros and cons of coding bootcamp but also what you can expect—and should not expect—from your coding bootcamp experience.

Pro: Coding Bootcamps Are Short(er)

Given that it takes approximately four years to get a traditional college degree in computer science, 14 or so weeks is a drop in the bucket in terms of time spent in school. In fact, 14 weeks is less time than it takes to earn a degree from a community college or to complete a graduate degree.

Pro: Coding Bootcamps are Less Expensive Than a Degree

Even a four-year degree from a public university at the in-state tuition rate costs, on average, twice what you pay for coding bootcamp ($25,290). While you can’t get a student loan to cover your bootcamp costs, you’ll still pay far less than you might for college.

Pro: Coding Bootcamp Can Help with the Fundamentals

You may not learn everything you need to know to become a programmer and have to do additional work beyond bootcamp to improve your coding skills. But, at a coding bootcamp, you’ll learn some of the fundamentals of programming.

Even though some employers feel that some bootcamps don’t prepare graduates for work in the programming field, one study found that 72% of employers thought that bootcamp graduates were just as prepared as people who completed a four-year computer science degree.

For example, a bootcamp may say that program graduates were employed within six months of graduating, but “employed” doesn’t have a standard definition. “Employed” could include freelancers, apprenticeships, or even temporary employees who work less than 12 weeks.

And, in the cases where graduates had full-time jobs before entering the program, those jobs often count in the employment figures, even if the bootcamp did nothing to help the graduate find a job. The key here is that a coding boot camp doesn’t guarantee gainful employment and that you should look beyond the surface when analyzing these claims

Con: Preparation Varies

One reason job placement rates are questionable may be due, in part, to the fact that some employers feel that coding bootcamp graduates are not adequately prepared for programming jobs. Companies have complained that coding bootcamps don’t do enough to teach participants the fundamentals of programming, instead focusing on teaching them how to work with a specific tool. This can leave bootcamp graduates unprepared to deal with novel situations because they don’t have a solid coding foundation to stand on, and can only solve problems “one way.” Many graduates (but not all) lack real world experience in a coding job, too.

Con: Coding Bootcamps Are Long

The average coding bootcamp is 16 weeks long, though some can stretch as long as 24 weeks. While that may not sound like a long time compared to a traditional degree, most bootcamp programs are full-time. You have to attend class Monday through Friday between nine and five. That makes it nearly impossible to hold a full-time job — or even a part-time job — while you complete bootcamp.

And while there are part-time bootcamps, you will likely have to sacrifice a lot of night and weekend time as all programs require extensive work outside the classroom — including time to complete homework before the classes start.

Con: Coding Bootcamps Can Be Expensive

While bootcamps are not as expensive as a traditional degree, you cannot take out a student loan to cover the cost. And you generally have to pay the entire fee upfront. Given that bootcamps costs an average of $11,906 (2018) without student loans, bootcamp may still be out of reach for many.

That said, some programs offer scholarships and payment plans for those in need. Other programs are experimenting with income sharing agreements or deferred tuition models to assist students with the cost.

How to Pick a Coding Bootcamp

If you’ve decided that coding bootcamp is the way to go, make sure you do your homework first.

That means more than choosing a reputable bootcamp. Before you sign on the dotted line, make sure a coding bootcamp will help you achieve your professional goals.

What Does It Teach

Coding bootcamps tend to focus on a particular language. Depending on your career goals, you may be better off in one program versus another. Make sure you choose a program that will teach you the things you need for your specific career path.

What Is the Job Placement Program Like?

Some bootcamps offer job placement assistance. They may host interview fairs, help you retool your resume, or even conduct mock interviews. Other coding bootcamps have extensive professional networks that you can leverage before you graduate.

However, not every bootcamp offers job placement assistance. Some programs have a list of companies where graduates have found work, and that’s it. While a bootcamp program can’t guarantee you a job, supportive job placement services may be essential.

What Is the Graduate Success Rate?

Don’t take all the job placement statistics at face value. Ask deeper questions and find out what’s behind those numbers. Ask how long it takes for graduates to find jobs. Then, ask what their job titles are and how long they worked in that job. Find out if the job was temporary or even an unpaid internship. Are graduates freelancing? How does the program define “employed?” Are graduates working in unrelated fields? If someone finds full-time work selling cable in a big box retail store, does that count?

Coding Bootcamp May Be the Right Choice

Coding bootcamp has its pros and cons, and you may decide that one outweighs the other. If you decide that coding bootcamp is right for you, make sure you do your homework to match yourself with the right program that will help you accomplish your career goals.

Web technology is the establishment and use of mechanisms that make it possible for different computers and devices to communicate and share resources. Web technologies are infrastructural building blocks of any effective computer network.

Web technologies are infrastructural building blocks of any effective computer network: local area network, metropolitan area network or a wide area network, such as the Internet. Communication on a computer could never be as effective as they are without the plethora of Web technologies in existence.

Communication Between Computers and Devices
Computers and other network devices need to communicate. A mechanism must make it possible for a computer to communicate with another computer on the same network or another network. The mechanism must ensure that a message moves from the sender to the recipient, enabling the receiver to retrieve the message, send feedback and acknowledge reception or failure of communication.

Markup Languages
Markup languages like HTML, CSS and XML are part of Web technology. These languages tell computers in text how to format, layout and style Web pages and programs. Two types of markup languages include procedural markup and descriptive markup. Additional types of languages include CGI and HTTP.

Programming Languages
Programming languages include Perl, C#, Javaand Visual Basic.NET. These languages are used by Web developers to create websitesand applications. Each language has pros and cons, and most developers know several different types to help them achieve their goals.

Web Servers
Web servers are comprised of two components, the hardware and software. The hardware includes HTML documents and other data. The software servers include the HTTP server, which is used to communicate between the computer and the Web server. There are two types of Web servers, which are static and dynamic servers.

Databases
Websites require a database management system, usually referred to as a database. Databases are used as a vault for Web server data. There are several different types of databases available, like MySQL, Microsoft Access and Oracle. The most popular types of data are JSON, XML and CSV. All of these different types of data store data in different ways

Business Applications
A variety of Web technology is vital to the function and success of many businesses. These include online appointment scheduling programs, websites and a way for customers to chat with representatives. Also, Web technology makes it possible for businesses to collect data on their customers to further customize their services.

Different Sides of Web Technology
There are client sides to applications and, conversely, there is the server side. The client side is what most people see when they use technology on a day-to-day basis. This includes whatever you see on your computer, laptop or tablet when using the Internet or various applications. The server side is what is happening behind the scenes, and it’s where all of the coding for the site or application is stored. Similarly, people see the front end of all of the Web technology, which shapes the way websites and applications look. The back end is made up of databases and various processes that are only known to the developer and business.